The Mt Kenya Times 
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta and President William Ruto at a past event
By: Joseph Mutua Ndonga
Worth Noting:
- Kenyans respected the church and elders and hence their role in shaping their opinion could not be taken for granted.
- So in various occasions, he stated. “I’m ready to sit with these leaders. This is because peace and unity is paramount. Again, President Kenyatta and I have come a long way. We formed this government together. So I respect him very much time”. Despite the piling pressure, President Kenyatta opted to remain non-committal.
- This would not come as surprise. Uhuru had already pronounced that Ruto was still ‘politically immature’ and hence he did not intend to pass the baton of power to him.
In the run-up to 2022 General Election, the elders particularly those drawn from Kikuyu and Kalenjin communities and religious leaders embarked on a a spirited campaign aimed at reconciling then- President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto.
However, the efforts had not borne the fruits by the time Kenyans went to the poll.
So, why did the talks hit a dead end? It is because the two leaders were harboring burning political ambitions and none of them was ready to cede hardline stance.
For the DP, he knew this was an issue he needed to handle with caution.
Kenyans respected the church and elders and hence their role in shaping their opinion could not be taken for granted.
So in various occasions, he stated. “I’m ready to sit with these leaders. This is because peace and unity is paramount. Again, President Kenyatta and I have come a long way. We formed this government together. So I respect him very much time”. Despite the piling pressure, President Kenyatta opted to remain non-committal.
This would not come as surprise. Uhuru had already pronounced that Ruto was still ‘politically immature’ and hence he did not intend to pass the baton of power to him.
The DP is my friend but ” hajafika hiyo kiwango ya kuongoza inchi. Wacha Kwanza akue. Hiyo wakati mwingine tutaona kama ameifa. Namtakia kila la heli” Uhuru was once quoted as saying.
In the meantime, he took this opportunity to once again drum up his support for the Azimio La Umoja-One Kenya Coalition Party presidential candidate Raila Odinga.
This Mzee means well for our country. Before settling on him, I had keenly looked and interrogated the credentials of other leaders eyeing the Presidency.
He is by far ahead of them. If you elect him, ‘you will not regret’.
For Ruto, Uhuru’s sentiments gave him new impetus and emboldened his resolve to soldier on.
At one, he coined an appealing slogan of the ‘Hustler Nation’.
Dynasties have been at the helm of power for a long time. Your life has not improved. It has worsened. It is time to say no to these dynasties.
As a hustler, I know where the shoe pinches. Come election, please elect me and I will transform your lives for the better.
Since he was sworn in, Ruto has been leaving no doubt that he is committed to walk the walk.
The opinion poll released a few days ago showed that he had done 50 percent of his promises.
Back to renewed efforts to reconcile him with his former boss, I have been asking this question. Will the elders and religious leaders succeed this time round?
Well, I have no answer.
A section of the media have been reporting that the two leaders were talking.
If this is true, then we shall wait to see how things will unfold.
Prior to the Handshake deal, the pair enjoyed cordial relationship.
The friendship blossomed after the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor linked them to 2007 post-election violence.
The charges he filed against them were however thrown out due to lack evidence.
This time ball is now on the other hand. So I would expect Uhuru to be the first to embrace the renewed unity calls.
Joseph Mutua Ndonga is a Writer and Political Analyst based in Nairobi
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